I’m free, says fugitive McAfee as he flies to US

Software tycoon John McAfee, wanted for questioning over a murder, has arrived in the United States after being deported from Guatemala.

The UK-born former boss had spent a week in a cell after entering the Central American country illegally — and hinted he wants to return to Britain.

He was detained in Guatemala last week for immigration violations after fleeing Belize, where police want to quiz him over a neighbour’s killing.

Bystanders stared at the police convoy escorting him to Guatemala City’s airport, where crowds gathered round his immigration truck and tried to photograph him with their phones.

“I’m free. I’m going to America,” said Mr McAfee, 67, before boarding the American Airlines flight to Miami.

He said earlier he wanted to return to the US and “settle down to whatever normal life I can”. He added: “I’d simply like to live comfortably day by day, fish, swim, enjoy my declining years.” He also revealed he would be happy to go to England, saying: “I have dual citizenship.” The tycoon was called a “person of interest” by Belize police after Gregory Faull was shot dead.

The pair had several arguments over the behaviour of Mr McAfee’s dogs. The tycoon, who denies involvement in the killing, has claimed he went on the run “for my own safety” fearing the authorities wanted to silence him.

He was missing for more than a month with his girlfriend Samantha Vanegas, blogging about his exploits.

Soon after the jet carrying him landed in Miami, a post on his website announ-

ced he was at a hotel in the city’s South Beach area. “I’ve no phone, no money, no contact information,” it said.

He later revealed that he was waiting for a phone call from his 20-year-old Belizean girlfriend, who did not travel with him.

Mr McAfee sold his stake in the anti-virus software company which is named after him and moved to Belize three years ago.

US officials have said there is no active arrest warrant for him there.